Bronwyn Wood admits she's spent the odd day on the couch as the coronavirus crisis washed over the world.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Border psychologist recalls in the early days of the pandemic there were people urging, "Just get it done, get out there ... walk up a hill".
Instead Ms Wood was telling her clients, as well as herself, that it's OK not to be OK.
"We're not meant to be okay, this is unchartered territory," she says.
"This is a pandemic, we don't know what's coming next ... and we're just going to do the best we can."
Her heart-warming words of self-care and seeking support form part of an online series launched by Survivors of Suicide & Friends (SOS&F) to mark Mental Health Week 2020.
The videos, created by Albury documentary-maker Helen Newman, include personal messages and commentary from mental health experts, advocates and young people as well as moving musical performances.
Mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry explores how the effects of "the worst pandemic in 100 years" have threatened both our physical and mental health.
"COVID has taken an emotional toll on the vast majority of the human race," he says.
"Sadly these sorts of disasters and economic recessions are associated with a significantly increased risk of suicide."
He says this crisis has "mobilised and sensitised" the public to the fragility of mental health and the need to do something decisive about it:
"We are at a watershed where major improvements could actually flow.
"It requires people at the grassroots and in communities fighting for the lives of people struggling with mental ill-health."
Prof McGorry praised Albury-Wodonga "as one of the most inspirational places in the whole country" for its work in this field.
Together with Australians for Mental Health, an organisation mobilising people to fight for a better deal on mental health, and through the worldwide movement United for Global Mental Health, he believes "more revolutionary breakthroughs" can be made to save lives.
Day to day, Ms Wood says there are steps you can take to safeguard your mental health during these uncertain times.
"We can get in this habit and our mood can decrease when we are alone and the thoughts can become loud in our head," she says.
She acknowledges COVID-19 has impacted people in many different ways.
"We're in this shared experience but we're not all in the same boat," she says.
Reaching out for support is "essential", staying connected and imposing some sort of daily structure, if there isn't one, can be "hugely helpful".
"Creating a routine, (doing) something enjoyable and having a rough plan for the day provides the scaffolding we need to hold us up a bit when we're having trouble just doing our usual stuff," she says.
She also says people should not feel pressured to make time "productive".
"I think we can do that comparison ... Oh, I'm not doing isolation well enough," she explains.
"I don't think we need the pressure of learning how to make sour dough.
"If you want to - fantastic, but you don't have to!"
